I'm in Great Company!

What do I have in common with these people?

 Christina Applegate

 Melissa Etheridge

Robin Roberts

Sheryl Crow

We are all breast cancer SURVIVORS!

All the literature I have read states that when you have had your carcinoma surgically removed and the pathology report verifies the area is free of cancer, then you make the transition from cancer victim to cancer survivor.  Today I received my pathology report verifying that the last of the cancer has been removed from my body.  I have transitioned to survivor.

The next thing on my to do list is to take all the necessary steps (radiation and probably tamoxifen) to make sure that the cancer can't come back easily.  It's still a long road ahead.  But today I celebrate.  I am beautiful, intelligent and talented, like the above women.  But most of all, like these women I have long admired, I am STRONG and I am a SURVIVOR!!!!!

Moms....Pops....I have some bad news

I need to tell my parents today about my cancer.  Conveniently they're coming to visit for the holidays, so I'll get to tell them in person rather than dropping the bomb over the phone.

My mom is going to freak.  She's always been more concerned about my potential for cancer than I have.  I have a feeling she'll blame herself for genetically predisposing me to this.  My mom has had breast cancer twice.  She's been through lumpectomies and radiation treatments and tamoxifen.  And she doesn't want her youngest child to have to go through that too.

But the important thing about my mom is that she is a cancer survivor.  This didn't kill her.  Her cancer was completely treatable.  Twice.  And my cancer is also completely treatable.  I'd like to think that this is what she genetically predisposed me to.  It's the survivor gene.

I'm not looking forward to watching my mother cry.  She will cry.  I'm certain of it.  And then, instead of her comforting me, I will comfort her.  I'll remind her that breast cancer is one of the most treatable and curable cancers that exists.  I'll remind her that she is a survivor and I will be too.